By: Megan Alford, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
I walked onto my first cruise not knowing what to expect. I walked off after having one of the best times and ready to go on my next cruise. I used to think that the only thing to do on a cruise was eat, drink, and hang by the pool. Oh boy was I wrong?! There’s truly SO MUCH to do you can’t do it all!
We set sail for a 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. The Allure is an Oasis class ship that was built in 2009. It just officially moved to its new homeport in Galveston, Texas. We were lucky enough to be some of the first to sail from the brand new terminal that was just completed. It is the first fully energy efficient terminal in the U.S and can accommodate 630,000 guests every year. The terminal officially opened on November 9th, 2022.
When you board Allure of the Seas, the first place you walk into is the Promenade, which is one of 7 neighborhoods aboard the Allure. The neighborhood is so spacious and tall with plenty to see or do. I was completely amazed at how large this area is. It definitely did not feel like I was on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. This is one of my favorite spots mostly because it has all of my favorite things: shopping, snacks, pizza, coffee, and entertainment. Literally something for everyone in just this one spot!
We were in an Oceanview Balcony room, which was great. Honestly, I was only in the room when I was sleeping or getting ready because we were usually out enjoying the activities. This stateroom has a king size bed that can split into two twins. It also has a couch and a decent size closet. One morning we decided to stay in our room and order room service. Then we sat on the balcony eating breakfast while looking out at the ocean. If you enjoy gazing at the water then I highly suggest a balcony room! It’s so enjoyable to just relax out there!
One of my favorite nights on the ship was the 70’s party. We all got dressed up in our best 70’s gear then headed to the Promenade to join in on the fun! The crew is all in on the excitement and they are such a delight to watch. I had the best time learning the dances and singing along with everyone! We were fully prepared with our 70’s attire, so it’s important to check your itinerary before your sailing.
We also enjoyed many other activities and events while on the ship. The first show we attended was the Ocean Aria show in the Aquatheater, which is a mixture of acrobatics and diving. On our last day we zip-lined over the Boardwalk and rode the Carousel. One day we attended Harry Potter Trivia and won! We went to the Battle of the Sexes game show and I laughed so much that night my abs hurt the next day! Then we saw the Ice Games show, which was a combination of comedy and ice skating. The very last night we went to a comedy show. Mamma Mia was also showing during our cruise and everyone said it was amazing! The entertainment team is so astounding and talented! This was just a few of the activities that were offered. They had a whole list of more, but we ran out of time!
The great thing about a cruise is it’s what you make of it! You want to relax? Cool, do it! You want to go to a show? Great, have fun! Something is constantly going on while you are cruising. There is no shortage of activities or experiences! I was not once bored while I was on Allure of the Seas! In fact, there were more things I wanted to do. We just didn’t get the chance to do them!
I’m completely convinced that cruises are for everyone! There’s an activity that will fit every single personality (of course, all the activities are optional)! So, if you have been thinking cruising is not for you, you should try it first! This is YOUR vacation, so make of it what you want and have the best time ever! If you haven’t been on a cruise yet, what are you waiting for?!
Ready to book your next vacation? Please reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels to be connected to a travel agent!
